Star England batter Joe Root played a crucial knock for his side in the second innings of the first Ashes Test on Day 4. Root started the morning session on an explosive note and stunned the crowd at Edgbaston with a series of reverse ramp shots and got a couple of boundaries.
England had lost 2 early wickets in the last session of Day 3 as both their openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett couldn’t score big. The English side then needed a positive start on Day 4 which was provided by their experienced batter Joe Root.
Joe Root smacks Reverse Ramp Shot against Scott Boland
Root made his intentions pretty clear off the very first ball of the day against Aussie skipper Pat Cummins. The English batter tried to reverse scoop Cummins but couldn’t make any connection with the ball and it went straight into the gloves of wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
While he didn’t get success on his first attempt, Joe Root clearly displayed what his approach would be throughout the day. Scott Boland came in to bowl the next over and the star batter scooped him over the keeper for a mighty six.
Root didn’t stop yet and played a reverse ramp shot on the next delivery as well for a boundary over the slip cordon. While the crowd at Edgbaston in Birmingham was left stunned by his aggressive approach, Australia were forced to place a fielder on the boundary to prevent the scoop shot.
Commentator Kevin Pietersen too was amazed with the approach shown by Root as he said on air, “Good morning to the world from Joe Root and good morning to Australia from Joe Root. Not sure I’ve ever seen that in Test cricket.”
A ramp-bunctious start from Joe Root 🔥
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 19, 2023
What is going on!? 😂🤷♂️ #EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/ieMdbBnRAH
The English batter went from 1 off 11 balls to 19 off 15 and pushed the Australian side on the backfoot who were once in the driver’s seat after getting a couple of quick wickets. Joe Root eventually played a crucial knock of 46 runs off just 55 deliveries including 5 fours and a maximum.
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England were bowled out on Day 4 after scoring 273 runs in the second innings of the first Ashes test as they got important contributions from Root, Brook and skipper Ben Stokes. By the end of the day’s play, Australia had lost 3 key wickets at a score of 107 runs and they still need 174 more runs to win the test.
